Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Tony Cingrani, Josiah Gray, Bullpen

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Pitcher Tony Cingrani #54 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of the MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 8-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Pitcher Tony Cingrani #54 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of the MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 8-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 02: Yimi Garcia #63 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

An overcrowded bullpen

As mentioned earlier in this article, Tony Cingrani is currently on a rehab assignment and when his rehab stint is up he will need to be added to the big league roster due to him being out of options.  That is where the Dodgers’ will face a roster crunch and have to make a tough decision on who to demote to the minors or release.

Yimi Garcia is another Dodgers’ reliever without options so the chances of him being designated for assignment are slim.  Yimi has been on a hot streak after a rough beginning to his 2019 campaign.  Last night he added two more scoreless innings and has not allowed a run in his last eight appearances.  He also has the lowest opponent’s average of anyone in the bullpen.

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Caleb Ferguson is on the comeback trail but he has options which likely means he will be kept in Triple-A.  Ferguson hit the IL right around the time he was expected to be demoted to the minor leagues so his injury has been questioned by many.  Ferguson has electric stuff but his options are working against him.

One of the relievers who could also be demoted due to his options is Scott Alexander.  Once Cingrani comes of the IL, the Dodgers would have a pair of left-handed relievers in Urias and Cingrani.  The chances of them carrying a third lefty in the pen is very small.  The other relievers with options are Pedro Baez, Julio Urias, Ross Stripling, and Dylan Floro.

Floro and Baez have been dependable late-inning relievers so they will not be demoted.  Optioning Urias to the minors doesn’t make sense either since he has great stuff and only limited innings to use.  Although Scott Alexander has been solid, the bullpen can get by without him.

Next. Is Julio Urias the MVP of the bullpen?. dark

Whatever the Dodgers choose to do to sort out their overcrowded bullpen, they are sure to make more changes as the season progresses.  The one certain thing, for now, is that Cingrani needs to be activated and Yimi Garcia cannot be sent to the minors nor should he be.